Folding bed



N. B. DOUGLASSL Fowme BED.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1-], 1916.

P31 11161 Aug. 17,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

WITNESSES: IN VENTOR N. B. DOUGLASS.

FOLDlNG BED.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1916.-

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' FOLDING BED.

Application filed September 11, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NAioiinoN B. DOUG- LASS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding beds of the upending type, and pertains especially to a spring counterbalance therefor.

In a prior application, Serial Number 30,798, filed May 27, 1915, I have shown a bed mounting in which a torsion spring counter-balance is employed extending across the bed frame carried by a floating fulcrum shaft supported on a pair of radius arms. lVith a view of reducing cost of manufacture by simplification of parts and of concealing as far as possible, the counterbalancing mechanism, I have developed the present invention wherein the spring counter-balance means are entirely contained within the bed frame itself and are concealed from view.

Having reference to the accompanying drawings, I

Figure 1 is a perspective of the front end of a wall bed frame showing the application of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail in partial section viewed from the front of the spring counter-balance with the bed in vertical position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fragment similar to Fig. 3 with a bed frame represented in horizontally extended position.

Figs. 5 and 9 are details of the spring con struction showing alternative arrangements.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the bell crank supporting arms.

Figs. 7 and 8 are details in section of the bracket and pivots for the radius arms.

A represents a reversible panel or other It suitable support to which the invention is applied. 2 represents a pair of brackets carried by panel A, or otherwise suitably sup-- ported with respect to the bed frame 3, which is carried from the brackets 2. 1' are radius arms pivoted at 5 to the brackets 2 and pivotally connected at their upper ends as at 6 to the side rails of the bed frame 3. The side rails of the bed frame 3 are preferably hollow and at the front end fit into a cylindrical casting 7, which forms a corner connection between a side rail and an end Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au". 17, 1920.

Serial No. 119,444.

rail 8; it being understood that there are four of these corner connections arranged in pairs connected by a corresponding angular end rail 8, and all the parts being held in assembled position by the tension of the wire fabric 9, which is stretched between the end rails 8; the rear construction of the bed frame not being shown.

Each corner connection 7 at the head end of the bed has a depending lug 10 at its outer end, through which the pivot pin 6 for the upper end of a radius arm 4 passes. At the opposite or forward end of the connection 7 are two integral bracket members 11-12, the bracket 11 extending upwardly to form a support and connection for the end rail 8; the bracket 12 extending outwardly and forwardly to form a support and connection for the head-board 13. Projecting inwardly and horizontally from each corner connection 7 is a lug 15 engaging in a segmental vertically extending slot 16 in the upwardly extending arm of bracket 2. Thus the arms 4. operate to support the head end of the bed frame in conjunction with the lugs 15 and guide slot 16; the arms 4 having a limited rocking movement on their fulcra 5 during the vertical movements of the bed frame from horizontal to upright position, and vice versa.

Inasmuch as the pivots 6 are comparatively close to the head end of the bed frame and the weight to be raised and lowered is considerable, it is necessary to provide suitable counter-balancing means.

In the present case this is done by inc-asing helical springs 18 in each of the hollow side rails of the bed frame 3, and anchoring one end of the spring and suitably connecting the other end of the spring with the radius arms 4, so that as the bed frame is lowered from vertical to horizontal position the tension of the springs will nicely balance the bed on its pivots 6 and 5, so as to make it quite easy to turn the bed from horizontal to vertical position, or vice versa., and at the same time insure against any upward collapse of the bed while in use, and on the other hand, insure against- -the bed falling down when not in use.

These springs 18 may operate either on extension or compression, and in the preferred form of operating on compression when the springs are under compression, the front end of the spring is anchored in the side rails by a pin as 20, Fig. 5; the opposite end of the spring being connected to a crosshead member 21, having a lateral projection extending outwardly through a longitudinal slot 22 in its respective side rail to be connected by a link 23 with the crank arm 2% on the upper end of a respective radius arm 4. The point of connection of the link 23 with the crank arm 24 is indicated by the 7 pin 25.

The spring tension is applied to hold the bed either in full horizontalor full vertical position, but at intermediate position it is applied to counterbalance the weight of the bed, and thus aid in raising it. This mode of operation results from the means through which the springs exert their force--namely, link 23 and crank arm 24. As shown in Fig. 4, when the bed is in horizontal position, the crank arm is in such a position with relation to the frame 3, that the force exerted by spring 18 through link 23 tends to prevent initial rotation of the member 10 and connected frame about the pivot (3, thus holding the bed in full horizontal position. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 3, when the bed is in such a position, the crank arm is in such a position with relation to the frame that the spring tends to prevent initial movement of the frame from a vertical position.

lVhere the springs are mounted on tension as in Fig. 9, the point of connection 20 with the bed frame is toward the foot end rather than the head end; the operation otherwise being the same.

A spring connection of this sort is simple, compact, self-contained and concealed, besides being substantial, durable, and add ing to the neat appearance of-the entire bed assembly.

The side rail members may be angular in cross-section instead of circular, in which event the springs wouldbe concealed within the angle or channel of the members.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a folding bed, an rip-ending main frame, rip-standing swinging fulcrum supports for the head-end of the main frame arranged to swing downwardly and outwardly when the bed is unfolded, extensions on the upper ends of the fulcrum supports, guide means to control the head-end of the bed in its movement, helical coil springs extending parallel with the side rails of the main frame connected at one end thereto and at the other end to the extensions on the fulcrum supports for counterbalancing the main frame.

2. A folding bed as set forth in claim 1, the extensions on'the fulcrum supports being in the form of rearwardly extending crank arms. a

3. A folding bed as set forth in claim 1,

having rigid links forming connections be tween the coil springs and the extensions on the fulcrum supports.

e. A folding bed as set forth in claim 1,

having its side rails in the form of tubular pressible coil springs lying parallel with g,

the said rails of the bed fra ieund cennected thereto at one end, and rigid links forming connections between the other ends of the coil springs and the-crank extensions.

6. In an up-ending bed, the combination of bracket members having vertical slots, a

bed frame with hollow side rails having.

guide lugs operating in said slots, bell crank radius arms pivoted to the brackets at one end and pivoted at the angles to the side rails, springs in the side rails anchored at one end to thesame, crossheads to which the opposite ends of the springs are connected, said cross-heads having'each a portion extending outwardly through a longitudinal slot'in its respective side rail, and links connecting saidcross-heads to the crank arm of said bell crank.

7. In an upending bed, the-combination of bracket members having vertical slots, a bed framewith hollow side rails having guide lugs operating in'said slots, bell crank radius arms pivoted to the brackets at one end and pivoted at the angles to the side rails, springs in the side rails anchored at one end to the same, crossheads to'which the opposite endsof the springs are connect-ed, said cross-heads having each a portion extending outwardly through alongitudinal slot in its respective side rail, and links connecting said cross-"heads to the crank arm of said bell crank, the pivotal connections of said links and bell crank being so arranged that the tension of said springs is applied in relation to the fulcrum support of the bed on said radius arms so as to assist in holding the bed in vertical position.

8. In a folding lip-ending bed, a head board, a bed frame, swinging fulcrum supports for the forward end of the bed frame, said bed frame comprising side rails and end rails and corner connections, the head end corner connections each comprising a cylindrical member in which the front end of the side rail fits, said cylindrical member having a downwardly extending lug at its rear end for connection with the adjacent fulcrum support, guide slot lugs carried by said cylindrical member, a pair of projecting lugs at the front-end, one of said projecting front end lugs extending upwardly and the other outwardly and forwardly, the upwardly extending lug forming the at tachment for the end rail, and the outwardly and forwardly projecting lug forming the attachment for the head-board.

9. In a folding bed, a head board, an upending bed frame, swinging fulcrum supports for the forward end of the bed frame, guide members for the bed frame, said bed frame comprising side rails and end rails and corner connections, the head end corner connections each comprising a cylindrical member in which the front end of the side rail fits, said cylindrical member having a downwardly extending lug at its rear end for connection with the adjacent fulcrum support, guide slot lugs carried by said cylindrical member, a pair of projecting lugs at the front end, one of said projecting front end lugs extending upwardly and the other outwardly and forwardly, the upwardly extending lug forming the attachment for the end rail, and the outwardly and forwardly projecting lug forming the attachment for the head-board, the said cylindrical member having an inwardly projecting lug intermediate of its ends to engage with the adjacent guide member.

10. In an lip-ending bed, the combination of bracket members having vertical slots, a bed frame with side rails having guide lugs operating in said slots, bell crank radius arms pivoted to the brackets at one end and pivoted at the angles to the side rails, springs parallel with the side rails anchored at one end to the same, cross-heads to which the opposite ends of the springs are connected, and links connecting said cross heads to the crank arm of said bell crank.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing 

